Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman 2 Ed [Paperback]

Abbie Hoffman (Author), Norman Mailer (Introduction), Howard Zinn (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 14, 2000

The Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman tells the story of one of America's most influential and imaginative dissidents, a major figure in the 1960s counterculture and anti-war movement who remained a dedicated political organizer right up until his death in 1989. With his unique brand of humor, wit, and energetic narrative, Abbie Hoffman describes the history of his times and provides a first-hand account of such memorable actions as the "levitation" of the Pentagon, the dropping of dollar bills onto the New York Stock Exchange floor, and the Chicago 8 Trial, which followed the demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic Convention, as well as his friendships with Jerry Rubin, Bobby Seale, Allen Ginsberg, and many others. Originally published in 1980 as Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture, this memoir has been out of print for nearly 10 years. This edition includes a new selection of photographs chosen by his widow, Johanna Lawrenson, as well as a new afterword by Howard Zinn celebrating Hoffman's enduring activist legacy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 2nd edition (November 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568581971
• ISBN-13: 978-1568581972
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Im In Love!, October 14, 2002

By 

Lori fenn (Phoenix, Arizona United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman 2 Ed (Paperback)

After seeing 'Steal this movie', I had no choice but to learn more about this incredibly crazy man. This book is amazing...it made me laugh out loud, think, ponder the idea of getting out there and causing a ruckus in the name of freedom. His writing flows...like old friends reminicing about their life changing experiences. What an insane, beautiful man. I can only hope that there will be more like him to come...our country needs a good jousting in the ribs!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only book I have ever read with amazement, July 26, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman 2 Ed (Paperback)

All I can say is my ABBIE HOFFMAN book collection continues to grow since I first read THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ABBIE HOFFMAN. I can only wonder what ABBIE would be doing in todays times if he was still with us. Once you read this book, I will gurantee you will see the UNITED STATES of AMERICA as the two sided nation that it truly is. (PIG NATION) Damn ABBIE could come up with the greatest of catch phrases, and did he ever leave many for the world to think about. This book will suck you in and keep you reading till the end. And I bet you'll make time to read it many more times again. I cannot think of anyone who I would truly call an amazing person as I do ABBIE HOFFMAN. The book collection and movies about ABBIE will wake you, shake you, and encourage all those who read that we as individuals allow the injustices to rain upon us. But ABBIE leaves you with the power to want to stand up and grab your soapbox and head to the nearest corner. Awesome stuff! Enjoy the book and get ready to get pumped up as you read..

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read, January 28, 2005

By 

Ragnus - See all my reviews

This review is from: Autobiography of Abbie Hoffman 2 Ed (Paperback)

I came of age in the late 80s and the first time I heard of Abbie Hoffman was in a Rolling Stone article on the 20th anniversary of Woodstock. According to David Fricke, Hoffman was clubbed with a guitar by the Who's Pete Townshed after the former took the mike during the lenthty "Tommy" medley and spouted some obscenities in the crowd, saying that Woodstock was a "bunch of s--t while John Sinclair rots in prison." I next encountered this character when I read about the Chicago 7 trials, when Hoffman and his co-defendants made a mockery of the trial (and what gleeful mockery it was!) and the judge who was handling that controversial case.

This book reveals much about who this sixties firebrand was, what drove him to do what he did, how the US government responded to sixties radicals like him (with hammer and tongs), and why he would eventually choose the life of an outlaw. Sadly, it also provides some valuable insights on why Hoffman would eventually take his own life. To his credit at least, he never became what he hated, something that cannot be said for the rest of his generation.